Russia Says Abu Dhabi Talks Reached Principle Agreement on Major POW Exchange

Dragon Media News Desk

Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said the trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi had reached an agreement in principle on a large-scale prisoner-of-war exchange. He said details, including the number of prisoners and timing, would be announced later.

Speaking to the media on November 11 on behalf of the Russian delegation, Medinsky thanked the leadership of the United Arab Emirates and Abu Dhabi for hosting the talks. He described the atmosphere as friendly and businesslike.

Medinsky said the parties also discussed Europe’s future security architecture after the end of the conflict in Ukraine. He said Russia had proposed a European Security Treaty in 2008 and sent security-related documents to the United States, NATO and European countries in 2021. The war in Ukraine, he said, had exposed weaknesses in the European security system established after Yalta and Potsdam.

According to Medinsky, the parties exchanged views with the US side taking part. They found common ground on some issues but remained divided on others, he said, adding that the discussions would continue. Russia would work towards a fair and modern security system that did not come at the expense of any country, he said.

Medinsky said the Russian delegation had not met European representatives who were also in Abu Dhabi. He said the talks were taking place in an agreed trilateral format and claimed that European countries had not put forward concrete peace proposals. He also accused European countries of prolonging the war by providing Ukraine with financial support and weapons, and of contributing to civilian deaths. He did not present independent evidence for those accusations.

Asked about the role of US President Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Medinsky said the US side had played an active role in the talks. He described the envoys as focused on results and said their mediation could help save lives.

Asked whether a new prisoner exchange had been agreed, Medinsky reiterated that the parties had reached an agreement in principle. He did not disclose the number of prisoners, the exchange date or the process.